Apparatus for washing barrels



ably at the centers Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES EDWIN F. ENGEL,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL COMPANY, Oli

WHITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA APPARATIIS FOR WASHING IBARRELS Application filed July 17,

My invention relates, more particularly, .to apparatus for cleansing the-interior, more especially, of oil barrels, which are commonly returned to refilling stations, not only with residue accumulations therein which should be removed before refilling, but also with foreign matter such as sand, dirt and other substances which become deposited in the barrels while in the hands of the user.

My object is to provide for the quick and effective cleansing of the interior of barrels and at the minimum expense of labor and washing fluid, the fluid commonly used being a hydrocarbon, such for example as kerosene, having the property of cutting the oil and also producing a flushing action; and to provide a novel, simple and economical apparatus for effecting such operation.

Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ngs:

Figure 1 is a View in vertical sectional elevation of an apparatus suitable for practicing my improved method and constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with certain parts of the barrel-washingracks broken away; and Figure 3, a View in vertical sectional elevation of a portion of one of the racks showing thereon a barrel to be washed, this view showing the relation of the discharge nozzle of one of the washingfluid-conducting pipes extending into the barrel. v

According to the preferred, illustrated, embodiment of my invention, the apparatus coniprisestwo grilles, or racks, 10 and 11 provided for supporting the barrels when being washed and rinsed, respectively. These racks are shown as forming sections of a floor 12 and are arranged directly abovedrip pans 13 and 14, respectively, which open, preferthereof (the bottoms of drip pans sloping toward their these centers), into drain pipes 15v and 16, respectively,

The vashing-fluid for effecting the initial washing ofthe barrels, is sprayed into the interior of the barrelstln'ough an upwardl extending nozzle-head 17, shown as of tie rose type and provided on the upper end of 1926. Serial No. 123,214.

a vertical pipe section 18 which extends upwardly through the rack .10 and into a position in which it projects into the barrel,

shown at 19, through the filler opening 20 therein, the barrel in this washing operation resting upon the rack 10 in inverted condition as shown. The pipe 18, valved at 21, opens into a T-coupling 22 connected with a. pipe 23 communicating with the outlet of a pump 24, shown as of the intermeshing-gear type and driven, through the medium of reducing gearing 25, by an electric motor 26, the inlet pipe 27 of the pump 24 communicating witha pipe 28 which leads from the supply of washing-fluid.

1n the arrangement shown, provision is made for collecting used washingfluid, cleansing it and then returning it to the pump 24 for re-use in washing barrels, the apparatus, to this end, comprising a container 29 for water, the level of which may be that represented at 30, the receptacle 29 containing a perforatedhorizontal partition 31 located closely adjaeentto,butverticallyspaced I from, the bottom of the receptacle 29, the pipe 15 extending downwardly through the receptacle 29 and opening downwardly through the central portion of the partition 31. The receptacle 29, above the water line 30 communicates, through an opening in its side wall, with the pipe 28.

- It may be here stated that in the operation of the apparatus, in so far as it has been described, the receptacle 29 would be charged with washing-fluid, as for example kerosene which would become superposed on the water in the receptacle, the washing'fluid, by way of example, extending up to the level indicated at 82, and upon operating the pump 24 the washing-fluidis-drawn into the pump. and thence discharged therefrom through the nozzle 17 to wash down accumulations and foreign matter in the barrel positioned on the rack 10 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,- the washing-fluid and the displaced substances, thawing out of the barrel through the s ace between the pipe 18 and the wall of the ller opening 20 and through the smaller, vent opening, 33 commonly provided. in barrels, and thence into the drip pan 13, discharging in is therefrom into the pipe 15 and thence dis Wardiy through the perforations in the pun tition 31 and upwardly through the bath in this receptacle, thus subwctmg it to a Washing and separating operation which causes the solid mutter in the washingfluid to be intercepted or precipitated in the receptacle 29, cleansing the wushing fiuid end rendering it again usable for the Weshiiw or barrels it being understood that the washing fluid is thus caused to traverse a, coir iete circuit for use in Washing number o... reis, until it becomes so contaminated thet is undesirable to further use it for t ingx As 2. meens for draining the recs 29 of the solid mutter precipitated ther drain pipe 34 valved 35, is provid pipe opening into the receptacle 2% on opening in the theta-1th.,"

bottom. thereof and ieuding in 'lhe supply 11, of suitubie i i v for rinsing the crime of the footed, in the peroicui tififi fcdi by in scribed for su barre-is on th fluid is caused posterity used tiiuV-e Joint of discher us for exam ne it the position. it occupies in. the Washing operation to position in which its bottom is low- I erniost and the barrel extends in tilted positioii us for e xumpie'by supporting it at one edge upoh u block in which position the fluid retained in the barrel as stated, runs into the chime d6 of the barrel at one side thereof, thereby concentrating this fluid at a relatively small urea and permitting substeiitiuiiy all of it to be removed from the berreh es for e-Xunipie by sucking it therefrom through 2i suction line, Such it suction line is shown. in the druwings and comprises a flexible hose time 4!? provided at its outer end 48 adapted to be introduced into burr i, preferably through its filler open- 33 extend into the chime 46, the other end of the zibie line 4!? being connected with vetted 50' and opening into the pipe it? end thus in communication With the suction of the pump 42,, it being understood that e preliminary to the pro ductiou of the suction action referred to the vsive id is closed end the who 50 opened.

the omiarstus shown provision is made use corruprises A ote ti exuiiipie 01 use us is was! iuio befrom the rinsing-fluid course;

' rsaopcs particular steps and certain particular apparatus are described and shown, I do not intend to limit the invention thereto as the same may he variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. In a barrel-washing apparatus, the combination of a receptacle for water, a source of supply of barrel-washing fluid in communication with said receptacle above the bottom thereof, means for conducting the washing fluid from said supply to a barrel to be washed, and means for conducting said barrel-washing fluid, after use for washing into said receptacle for assage through the water therein and to said source.

2. In a barrel-washing apparatus, the combination of a receptacle for water, a source of supply of barrel-washing fluid in communication with said receptacle above the bottom thereof, means for conducting the washing fluid from said supply to a barrel to be washed, and a pipe opening into said rec ptacle below the level of the water therein or conducting said barrel-washing fluid, after use for washing, into said receptacle for passage through the water therein and to said source.

3. In a barrel-washing apparatus, the combination of a receptacle for water, a periorated partition dividing the receptacle into washed, and a pipe opening downwardly through said partition for conducting said barrel-washing fluid, after ,use for washing,

into said lower compartment for passage through the watertherein and to said source.

4. In a barrel-washing apparatus, the combination of a pump for thewashing-fluid,

means connected with said pump for conducting the fluid-to the barrelto be washed, a receptacle for water, means for conducting the used barrel-washing fluid into said receptacle for passage through the water therein, and means for conducting the cleansed washing-fluid after passing through the water back to said pump.

5. In a barreLwashing apparatus, the com-- bination of a pump for the washing-fluid, means connected with said'pump) for conducting the fluid to the barrel to e washed,

' a receptacle for water, means for conducting the used barrel-washing fluid into said receptacle for passage through the water therein, and a pipe opening into said receptacle abovethewater therein and in communication with the inlet of said pump.

6. In a barrel-washing apparatus, the combination of a receptacle for containing a body of water and slipper osed thereon a body of arrel-washing ui of lighter specific body of water therein.

7. In a barrel-washing apparatus, the combination of a pump for the :washing-fluid, means connected with said pum for conducting the fluid to the barre to e washed, a receptacle for water, means for conducting the used barrel-washing fluid into said receptacle for passa e throu h the water therein, means for con uctin t e cleansed washing fluid after'passa t rough the water back. to said pump, an means whereby the washing-fluid dischargin from said pump may be diverted, at w il from the circulating washing-fluid course.

8. In a barrel-washing apparatus, the combination of a pump for the washing-fluid,-

a pipe connected with the outlet of said pump for conducting the washing-fluid to a barrel to be washed, a receptacle for water, means for conducting the used barrel-Washing fluid into said receptacle for assage through the water therein, means or conducting the cleansed washing-fluid after-passage through the water back to said pump, a valve" in saidpipe and a valved pipe through which the washing-fluid discharging from said pump ma be directed when said first-named valve is c osed.

. 9. In barrel-washing apparatus, a recep tacle for containing water and a body of barrel-washing fluid, one being superposed on the other, means for conducting the fluid from the receptacle to a barrel to be washed, and meansfor conducting the used fluid into saidreceptacle-for passage through the water therein.

10. In a barrel-washing machine adapted to use a barrel-washing fluid and a bath for treatment of the latter, means to contain the bath and a supply of said fluid in communication with each other, means for conducting the washing fluid to a barrel to be washed, and means for conducting saidbarrel-washing fluid after use for washing to said bath for passage therethrough and for returning it to said supply. .EDWIN'F. ENGEL. 

